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Highlights

  • Berenberg lifts JD Sports price target from 128p to 155p.
  • Q2 trading in line with consensus, like-for-like sales down 3.0%.
  • Exclusive product lines and store dominance support distribution strategy.

Analysts at Berenberg revised their outlook on JD Sports Fashion Plc (LSE: JD), raising the price target from 128p to 155p while maintaining a ‘buy’ rating. The reassessment followed the retailer’s second-quarter trading update, which broadly aligned with market expectations despite a modest sales decline.

Berenberg pointed out that JD’s 3.0% like-for-like sales contraction reflected challenging comparisons against last year, when major sporting events such as the UEFA Euro football tournament and the Paris Olympics boosted sales. Even with the softer performance, analysts view JD as maintaining an essential role within the global sportswear distribution landscape.

The German investment bank highlighted JD’s heavy reliance on physical stores, which account for roughly 80% of its sales, positioning it as a key distribution partner for leading athletic brands. According to the note, JD Sports continues to provide these brands with a broad retail presence that online marketplaces and direct-to-consumer platforms have not fully matched. Half of its apparel and around 30% of footwear sales stem from exclusive lines developed in collaboration with brands, underpinning its differentiated offering.

On the external environment, Berenberg acknowledged potential uncertainty from U.S. tariff policies under Donald Trump’s ongoing trade measures but noted JD does not consider the direct impact material at this stage. Currency movements, however, did weigh on performance. The bank incorporated a £14m foreign exchange hit in its first-half estimates.

Reflecting these adjustments, Berenberg trimmed its forecast for JD’s current-year adjusted profit before tax by 3%, reducing the figure from £901m to £872m. Longer-term estimates were also lowered to account for the revised base, bringing its discounted cash flow valuation down from 196p to 155p. The analysts, however, chose to raise their previous price target of 128p in line with the updated valuation.